Arch supporting insole



Feb. 10, 1948. 5, w GElLEAR I 2,435,776

ARCH- SUPPORTING INSOLE Filed March 23, 1946 Inventor By My;

"with the appended claims.

Patented Feb. 10, 1948 ARGH- SUPPORTING INSQLE' George, W. ,Geilear, Brockton, Mass. ApplicationtMarch 23, 1946; SerialNoi 65615.

( Cl. 3b.;,8-5.):

2 Cl ms. 1

h invention,sumc entmdesenb em h m1- lowing; specification that those versed in; its art may understand its purposes, its functions and its mode of construction and manufacture, is also shown in the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate at least one form thereof'yhas for a primary bie tio: pr vide an innensole. ,soformed; as to be adaptable to many functions;

This invention has for another object to provide a fiXBdOl insertable' shoe inner sole which at once provides a heel protector, a stocking. pro;-

teot r an ar h upporter. cac ed-w l. a shoelinnst, epa r.; de ice. .,..s i ttin d ce... n $hi nie ain r- AV iI-l furth r hiectoithe nvent n s toprovide an insole and arch support so formed as to adapt itself to shoes of various forms such as straight, swing lasts, etc.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the invention before being formed,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, the device being partly shaped,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the sole shown formed in one manner,

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view of the invention shown formed in another manner, and

Figure 6 is a broken away detail view of arch supporter strip.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of the device which is to be limited only in accordance And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and the invention consists of a half-sole ll extending from the heel 12 to 2 Y of thesesamoid 'ofi thevhaax, which portion of" any common shoe-is==ofi=the same contourt The die (cut pattern of -the-sole is greatly =enlarged at theheel portionas-indicated in Figure -1 of the drawingsandisslit from -the points M and [5 on one heel edge -l6; and-=1 1 and-13: on the opposite heel: edge 19 to provide wings 2 0::and 2 I which when the heel guard rear end 22 of the device is turned up on the dotted lines '23-at-sub stantially right angles-to the" heel I H." the said wings will be folded under the-bottom surfacelfl ofv the heel as-indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. This ,arrangement-iofethersaid wingssprovides i a. recess 201tOaV-1tyi'25EfOr ithenba'll ofltheheelatm seat; in whichwillwpreventathe foot 1 of; theuser-.- from a tendency to slip forward as occurs in many cases, causing the toes to too tightly engage the toe of a shoe and resulting in ingrowing toenails.

Projecting from the edges 26 and 21 of the instep portion 28 of the sole are a series of separated tongues or tabs 29 and 30 which in themselves have numerous functions, viz.: When folded under the instep portion 28 of the sole ll they raise the same and form an arch supporter as indicated in Figure 4. When these tabs are turned up as in Figure 5, they form a retainer for a sponge rubber supporter to which they are secured preferably by a cement. The ofiside of the end tabs 3|, 32, 33, and 34 may be provided with an adhesive for attachment to the side of a shoe upper to hold the device to a shoe when withdrawing a foot therefrom. All of the tabs may thus be provided on the offsides 35 and 36 with adhesive to secure them to the under side of the instep 28. To the adhesive may be attached additional strips of cushioning material when it is desired to raise the instep 28 higher than the tabs 29 and 30 would ordinarily do. A still further and important function of these tabs is that a shoemaker, who is often faced with the problem of repairing worn inner linings, may adhere these tabs to the lining to hold the same securely in place.

It is the intent that the tabs 29 and 30 be of a length to provide a longitudinal space 38 therebetween when folded under the instep 28 where-- by the instep of a wearer will be supported principally from the fleshly sides of the instep and thus protect the metatarsal bones from undue pressure thereon, thus overcoming a tendency to straighten them out and cause flat foot, which can always be prevented if proper precautions are taken in the early stages and rigid supportersare the end l3 which extends to about the rear side not used.

When enlarged flexible arch supporters are found necessary with the above described device they can be used by a chiropodist or podalic specialist for securing the same either below or above the portion 28 of the sole by means of said tabs.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner and that its simplicity, accuracy and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device considering what it will accomplish and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a. more lengthy de-- scription is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size andrearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to, in actualpractice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a sole having a rear heel guard extending thereabove with forwardly extending wings projecting from the sides thereof to be disposed in crossed relation under the heel portion of said sole and secured thereto, said heel guard and 35 2,203,157

attached wings and the heel portion of said sole forming a heel receiving seat, said sole extending forwardly to a point beneath the ball of a foot when placed thereon, tabs projecting from the intermediate sides of the sole adapted to form an arch support either above or below said intermediate sole portion.

2. A device of the character described comprising a sole having a rear heel guard extending thereabove with integral forwardly extending wings projecting from the sides thereof with adhesive on their free ends whereby said wings may be disposed in crossed relation beneath said sole and attached thereto by means of said adhesive for forming a heel receiving recess or seat, said sole extending forwardly to a, point beneath the ball of a foot when placed thereon with the heel received in said seat, tabs projecting laterally from the intermediate sides of said sole and having adhesive on the under surfaces thereof whereby said tabs may be secured either above or below said sole to form an arch support.

GEORGE W. GEILEAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 278,302 Wood -May 22, 1883 1,701,804 Cochran Feb. 12, 1929- 1,993,113 Pignanelli Mar. 5, 1935 Klaus June 4, 1940 

